Among other things, a data communication system wirelessly transmits data between a stator and a movable unit (e.g., a rotor) as part of a computed tomography (CT) imaging modality. The data communication system includes a first magnetic portion including a first magnetic material. The first magnetic portion extends along a first axis. The data communication system includes a first conductive portion including an electrically conductive material. The first conductive portion is at least partially surrounded by the first magnetic portion. The first conductive portion extends along a second axis that is substantially parallel to the first axis. The first conductive portion will at least one of generate an electromagnetic field corresponding to data to be transmitted, or have induced therein a current based upon a received electromagnetic field, where the current is a function of the data to be transmitted.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A computed tomography (CT) imaging modality comprising: a stator; a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator; a radiation source coupled to the rotor and configured to emit radiation; a detector array coupled to the rotor and configured to detect at least some of the radiation; and a first data communication component coupled to the stator or the rotor for transmitting data between the stator and the rotor, the first data communication component comprising: a first magnetic portion comprising a first magnetic material; and a first conductive portion comprising an electrically conductive material, the first conductive portion at least partially surrounded by the first magnetic portion, the first magnetic portion and the first conductive portion forming an electromagnetic coupling with a second data communication component, the second data communication component coupled to: the stator when the first data communication component is coupled to the rotor; or the rotor when the first data communication component is coupled to the stator.
2. The CT imaging modality of claim 1 , wherein the second data communication component comprises a second conductive portion comprising a second electrically conductive material, the second conductive portion not surrounded by a magnetic portion comprising a magnetic material.
3. The CT imaging modality of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive portion terminates at a first terminal, the first terminal positioned proximate a first distal end of the first magnetic portion.
4. The CT imaging modality of claim 3 , comprising: a third data communication component coupled to the stator or the rotor for transmitting data between the stator and the rotor, the third data communication component comprising: a third magnetic portion comprising a third magnetic material; and a third conductive portion comprising a third electrically conductive material, the third conductive portion at least partially surrounded by the third magnetic portion, the third magnetic portion and the third conductive portion forming an electromagnetic coupling with the second data communication component; wherein the third conductive portion terminates at a third terminal, the third terminal positioned proximate a second distal end of the third magnetic portion, the first distal end of the first magnetic portion adjacent the second distal end of the third magnetic portion.
5. The CT imaging modality of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive portion terminates at a first terminal, the first terminal positioned proximate a center portion of the first magnetic portion.
6. The CT imaging modality of claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic portion defines a radial opening extending along a length of the first data communication component.
7. The CT imaging modality of claim 6 , wherein the first conductive portion is exposed to the second data communication component through the radial opening.
8. The CT imaging modality of claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic material is electrically non-conductive and magnetically permeable, the first magnetic portion comprising a second magnetic material that is electrically non-conductive and magnetically permeable, the second magnetic material different than the first magnetic material.
9. The CT imaging modality of claim 8 , wherein the first magnetic material extends along a first length of the first data communication component and the second magnetic material extends along a second length of the first data communication component that does not overlap the first length.
10. The CT imaging modality of claim 1 , wherein the first data communication component is configured to transmit data to the second data communication component using the electromagnetic coupling.
11. The CT imaging modality of claim 10 , wherein the second data communication component is configured to transmit data to the first data communication component using the electromagnetic coupling.
12. The CT imaging modality of claim 1 , wherein the second data communication component is configured to transmit data to the first data communication component using the electromagnetic coupling.
13. The CT imaging modality of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive portion is configured to have induced therein a current based upon a received electromagnetic field from the second data communication component, the current a function of the data to be transmitted.
14. A data communication system for wirelessly transmitting data, the data communication system comprising: a first magnetic portion comprising a first magnetic material, the first magnetic portion extending along a first axis; and a first conductive portion comprising an electrically conductive material, the first conductive portion at least partially surrounded by the first magnetic portion, the first conductive portion extending along a second axis that is substantially parallel to the first axis, the first conductive portion configured to at least one of: generate an electromagnetic field corresponding to data to be transmitted; or have induced therein a current based upon a received electromagnetic field, the current a function of the data to be transmitted.
15. The data communication system of claim 14 , wherein the first magnetic material is electrically non-conductive and magnetically permeable.
16. The data communication system of claim 15 , wherein the first magnetic portion comprises a second magnetic material that is electrically non-conductive and magnetically permeable, the second magnetic material different than the first magnetic material.
17. A data communication system for wirelessly transmitting data between a stator and a rotor, the data communication system comprising: a first data communication component coupled to the stator or the rotor for transmitting data between the stator and the rotor, the first data communication component comprising: a first magnetic portion comprising a first magnetic material; and a first conductive portion comprising an electrically conductive material, the first conductive portion at least partially surrounded by the first magnetic portion; and a second data communication component coupled to: the stator when the first data communication component is coupled to the rotor; or the rotor when the first data communication component is coupled to the stator; the second data communication component comprising: a second conductive portion comprising a second electrically conductive material, the second conductive portion not surrounded by a magnetic portion comprising a magnetic material, the first magnetic portion and the first conductive portion forming an electromagnetic coupling with the second data communication component.
18. The data communication system of claim 17 , wherein the first conductive portion terminates at a first terminal, the first terminal positioned proximate a first distal end of the first magnetic portion.
19. The data communication system of claim 18 , comprising: a third data communication component coupled to the stator or the rotor for transmitting data between the stator and the rotor, the third data communication component comprising: a third magnetic portion comprising a third magnetic material; and a third conductive portion comprising a third electrically conductive material, the third conductive portion at least partially surrounded by the third magnetic portion, the third magnetic portion and the third conductive portion forming an electromagnetic coupling with the second data communication component; wherein the third conductive portion terminates at a third terminal, the third terminal positioned proximate a second distal end of the third magnetic portion, the first distal end of the first magnetic portion adjacent the second distal end of the third magnetic portion.
20. The data communication system of claim 17 , wherein the first conductive portion terminates at a first terminal, the first terminal positioned proximate a center portion of the first magnetic portion.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
October 16, 2014
July 23, 2019
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.